Exam 3: Applied Psychology exam

practice Issues in Mental Health

Child Psychology Criminal Psychology

Topic 1: Issues with Mental HealthComponent 1: Historical context of mental healthBackground

o Historical views of mental illnesso Defining abnormalityo Categorising mental disorders

Key researcho Rosenhan (1973) On being sane in insane places

Applicationo Characteristics of an affective, psychotic and anxiety disorder

Component 2: Medical Model (as an explanation for mental illness)Background

o Biochemical explanationo Genetic explanationo Brain abnormality explanation

Key researcho Gottesman (2010) Disorders in offspring with two psychiatrically ill parents

Applicationo Biological treatment of one specific disorder

Component 3: Alternative explanationsBackground

o Behaviourist explanationo Cognitive explanationo Humanistic or psychodynamic explanation

Research:o Szasz (2011) The Myth of Mental Illness

Applicationo Non biological treatment of one specific disorder

Issues in Mental Health:

Mental health Exam structures:

General guidance:

1-3 marks = 1 point – Point, Evidence/Example, Explain 4-6 marks = 2 points – Point, Evidence/Example, Explain

To What Extent Question AND Discussion Question:

1. Point:2. Evidence/Example:3. Explain:4. Challenge/Extend:

Scenario Question:

1. Link your answer to the scenario2. Always be mindful of the exam key word – How, Why, Identify,

Assess

Compare Question: Compare the biochemical explanation of mental illness with brain abnormality as an explanation of mental illness [10]

A mixture of similarities and differences OR All similarities Or All differences

X2 comparisons

1. Point2. Explain3. Evidence/Example4. Evidence/Example

Questions that ask you about Key research: Rosenhan, Szasz, Gottesman

Link your answer using evidence from the study

EXAM QUESTIONS: MENTAL HEALTH

Historical views of mental health:

1. Outline one historical view of mental illness. [3]2. Mr X has an intelligence quotient (IQ) of 66. This is in the bottom 2%

of the population. Explain what may have been believed to be the cause of this behaviour now compared to earlier in history [4]

3. Discuss the situational/individual explanations in relation to the historical context of mental illness.

4. Outline one historical view of mental illness and explain how it has changed over time [5]

5. Using your knowledge of the historical explanation of mental health. Explain how treatments of mental disorders have changed [6]

Diagnosing and categorising mental health issues:

1. Outline one definition of abnormality. [2]2. Explain why labelling people ‘abnormal’ could be considered

unethical. [3]3. Rosenhan (1973) hypothesised that psychiatrists cannot reliably tell

the difference between people who are sane and those who are insane. With reference to the key research, discuss how classification of mental illness can result in ‘stickiness of labels’. [5]

4. Describe the characteristics of a psychotic disorder. [5]5. Lena is a clinical psychologist. She believes that a patient of hers is

experiencing a psychotic disorder. Assess one difficulty that Lena could experience in trying to confirm that her patient is experiencing a psychotic disorder. [6]

6. Mr X has an intelligence quotient (IQ) of 66. This is in the bottom 2% of the population. Outline one definition of abnormality that would explain this behaviour. [3]

7. Describe how the DSM categorises an individual as depressed. [5]8. Identify the characteristics of an anxiety disorder [4]9. Outline one way of defining abnormality. [2]10. Discuss the issue of defining abnormality in relation to

ethnocentrism. [5]11. To what extent can diagnosis to mental disorders be

ethnocentric [10]12. Evaluate difficulties when identifying characteristic of

psychological disorders [10]13. Outline one way (e.g. classification system) in which can be

categorised [5]14. Discuss limitations of diagnosing mental disorders [10]15. Evaluate the validity of diagnoses of mental health disorders

[10]

16. Describe the characteristics of one anxiety disorder [4]17. To what extent is it valid to identify a disorder from a list of

characteristics [6]18. Assess the reliability of identifying a disorder from a list of

characteristics [10]19. With reference to Rosenhan’s research. Discuss how current

explanations of mental illness may have developed from Rosenhan’s research and how the DSM and ICD may aid this [6]

20. Identify two of the positive symptoms in schizophrenia [2]21. Identify two of the negative symptoms in schizophrenia [2]22. Penelope washes her hands more than 50 times a day and she

avoids touching things because she always worries about germs. Using your psychological knowledge identify and explain the disorder that Penelope has [6]

23. Explain what is meant by the reliability of the diagnoses of mental disorders [3]

Explanations of mental health issues:

1. Compare a cognitive explanation with one other explanation of mental illness. [10]

2. Discuss the nature/nurture debate in relation to the biological explanation of mental illness. [10]

3. Explain what the key research by Gottesman et al. (2010) tells us about mental disorders. [5]

4. Discuss the usefulness of the key research by Gottesman et al. (2010). [6]

5. To what extent are explanations of mental illness reductionist? [10]6. Outline how the behaviourist approach could be used to explain

mental illness. [5]7. In the key research by Szasz (2011), the author refers to “the

medicalisation of disturbing or disturbed behaviours”. Explain what Szasz means by this. [3]

8. Assuming Szasz is correct to say there has been a “medicalisation of disturbing or disturbed behaviours”, to what extent would you see this as a problem? [5]

9. Compare the biochemical explanation of mental illness with brain abnormality as an explanation of mental illness.

10. Evaluate the research carried out by Szasz [6]11. Discuss the usefulness of research in relation to the biological

explanation of mental illness [10]12. In the key research by (2011) Szasz the author quotes ‘Therein

the patient must minister13. to himself’. Using the key research, evaluate the view point

that Szasz is putting forward [6]14. With reference to the Rosenhan study, Discuss the socially

sensitive debate [6]

15. With reference to the research by Szasz. Discuss the ethical issues in relation to the research [6]

16. Can mental illness be perpetuated and exacerbated using the medical model? Discuss. [6]

17. Using your knowledge of one explanation of mental illness, answer the following question. To what extent does your chosen explanation relate to the freewill/determinism debate [10]

18. Outline how the biological approach would explain one of the following disorders; affective; anxiety; psychotic [6]

19. Evaluate different explanations of the disorder you referred to in the previous question [10]

20. Outline a biological explanation of mental disorders [5]21. To what extent are explanations of mental disorders are

reductionist [10]22. Compare the explanations of one mental disorder [10]23. How might cognitive psychologists explain dysfunctional

behaviour [6]24. Assess the appropriateness of different explanations of

dysfunctional behaviour [10]25. Outline evidence suggesting that genetic abnormality causes

any one mental disorder [6]26. Explain why genes cannot be considered to be the whole

explanation for schizophrenia [6]27. Discuss the reductionism/holism debate in relation to the

medical model of mental illness [10]28. According to Szasz (2011) the term ‘mental illness’ refer to the

‘subjective judgements of some persons about the behaviours of other persons’ With reference to the key research, discuss whether or not explanations of mental illness support the that psychology is a science [5]

29. Thomas Szasz suggests that ‘if we accept that scientific definition of illness as the structural or functional alteration of cells, tissues and organs and if all conditions now called mental illnesses proved to be brain diseases, there would be no need for the notion of mental illness’ Explain what he means [6]

Treatments of mental health issues:

1. Suggest how biological treatment can be used to treat one specific disorder. [5]

2. Outline how non-biological treatment could be used to treat one specific disorder. [5]

3. Suggest how a behavioural treatment can be used to treat one specific disorder. [5]

4. Suggest how cognitive treatment can be used to treat one specific disorder. [5]

5. How could a psychological disorder (either affective or anxiety or psychotic) be treated biologically? [6]

6. Compare approaches to treating the disorder you referred to in the previous question [10]

7. Outline a cognitive behavioural therapy as a treatment for one disorder (either affective or anxiety or psychotic). [5]

8. Assess the effectiveness of the treatments for one disorder [10]9. Discuss ethical considerations regarding the treatments of a mental

disorder [10]10. Assess the strengths and weaknesses of treatments for one

chosen disorder [10]11. Discuss ethical issues in the treatment of mental disorders [10]12. With reference to the socially sensitive debate. Discuss

treatments for one mental health disorder [10]

TOPIC 2: CRIMINAL PSYCHOLOGY

COMPONENT ONE: W hat makes a criminal?

Background: Physiological and non-physiological explanations of criminal

behaviour

Key Research:  Raine et al (1997) Brain abnormalities in murderers indicated by

positron emission tomography

Application: One biological strategy for preventing criminal behaviour

COMPONENT TWO: The Collection and Processing of Forensic Evidence

Background: Motivating factors and bias in the collection and processing of

forensic evidence

Key Research:  Hall and Player (2008) Will the introduction of an emotional context

affect fingerprint analysis and decision making?

Application:  Strategies for reducing bias in the collection and processing of

forensic evidence

COMPONENT THREE: Collection of Evidence

Background: Collection and use of evidence from witnesses and suspects

Key research: Memon and Higham (1998) A review of the cognitive interview

Application: One strategy for police interviews

COMPONENT FOUR: Psychology and the courtroom

Background: How juries can be persuaded by the characteristics of witnesses and

defendants

Key Research: Dixon et al. (2002) The Role of Accent and Context in Perceptions of

Guilt

Application: One strategy to influence jury decision making

COMPONENT FIVE: Crime Prevention

Background: How the features of neighbourhoods and how a zero-tolerance policy

can influence crime

Key Research:  Wilson and Kelling (1982) The Police and Neighbourhood Safety:

Broken Windows

Application: At least one strategy for crime prevention

COMPONENT SIX: Effect of Imprisonment

Background: Punishment and reform as responses to criminal behaviour

Key Research:  Haney et al (1973) Study of prisoners and guards in a simulated

prison

Application: At least one strategy for reducing reoffending

TOPIC 3: CHILD PSYCHOLOGYCOMPONENT ONE: Intelligence

Background: What Psychologists mean by intelligence and what biological factors

could affect intelligence

Key Research:  Van Leeuwen et al (2008) A twin-family study of general IQ

Application: At least one method of assessing intelligence

COMPONENT TWO: Pre-adult Brain Development

Background: Brain development and the impact of this on risk taking behaviour

Key Research:  Barkley-Levenson and Galvan (2014) Neural representation of

expected value in adolescent brain

Application: At least one strategy to reduce the risk of taking behaviours using

knowledge of brain development

COMPONENT THREE: Perceptual Development

Background: Perceptual development in children and how this can be studied in

babies and animals

Key Research: Gibson and Walk (1960) The Visual Cliff

Application: At least one play strategy to develop perception in young children

COMPONENT FOUR: Cognitive Development and Education

Background: 

Cognitive development in children and the impact of this on education

Key Research:  Wood et al. (1976) The role of tutoring in problem-solving

Application: At least one cognitive strategy to improve revision of learning

COMPONENT FIVE: Development of Attachment

Background:

The development of attachment and babies and the impact of failure to develop attachments

Key Research:  Ainsworth and Bell (1970) Attachment, Exploration and Separation:

Illustrated by the Behaviour of One-year-olds in a Strange Situation

Application: At least one strategy to develop an attachment friendly environment

COMPONENT SIX: Impact of Advertising on Children

Background: The influence of television advertising on children and the

stereotyping in such advertising

Key Research: Johnson and Young (2002) Gendered voices in children’s advertising

Application: At least one strategy to reduce impact of advertising which is aimed

at children

Child Psychology and Criminal Psychology exam structure. Each topic is composed of three questions (a, b & c). All question A’s are structured the same. Just as all question B’s are structured the same, and all question C’s are structured the same.How to answer ‘A’ questions…

Five marks = explain the study (Aim, sample, procedure, results, conclusions)

Five marks = apply the findings to real life (The study found ‘X’, we can use this in society through ‘Y’). Do this twice.

Question will follow the following structure; Explain how the research by __(name)___ helps us ___(link to topic)____

EXAM QUESTIONS: CHILD PSYCHOLOGY1. Explain how the research by Van Leeuwen et al. (2008) could be

used to understand similarities and differences in the intelligence of twins [10]

2. Use the study by Barkley-Leveson and Galvan (2014) to explain how neuroscience can help us to understand differences between adolescent and adult brains [10]

3. Using the research by Barkley-Levenson et al. (2014), explain the relationship between brain development and risk taking behaviour. [10]

4. Explain how research by Van Leeuwen et al. (2008) could be used to explain the biological influence on intelligence. [10]

5. Using the research by Gibson & Walk (1960), explain how experimental studies can be used to understand perceptual development [10]

6. Explain how the research by Gibson and Walk (1960) could be applied to everyday life. [10]

7. Explain how the research by Wood et al (1976) could be used to improve children’s learning in an educational setting [10]

8. Explain how the research by Ainsworth & Bell (1970) could be used to identify children with attachment problems [10]

9. Explain how the research by Johnson and Young (2002) helps us to understand the influence of advertising on children [10]

EXAM QUESTIONS: CRIMINAL PSYCHOLOGY1. Explain how the research by Raine et al (1997) could be used to

understand physiological explanations of criminal behaviour [10]

2. Using the research by Hall and Player (2008) explain how motivating factors and bias could affect the collection and processing of forensic evidence [10]

3. Explain how the research by Hall and Player (2008) could be used to improve fingerprint identification. [10]

4. Explain how the research by Memon and Highman (1999) could be used to improve the way evidence is collected though police interviews [10]

5. Using the research by Dixon et al (2002) explain how juries can be persuaded by the characteristics of witnesses and defendants [10]

6. Using the research by Wilson and Kelling (1982) explain how the features of neighbourhoods and zero-tolerance policing can help prevent crime [10]

7. Using the research by Haney et al. (1973), explain punishment and reform as responses to criminal behaviour. (10)

8. Explain how the research by Haney et al. (1973), could be used to explain a strategy for reducing reoffending. (10)

9. Explain how the research by Haney et al (1973) could be used to understand the effects of imprisonment [10]

How to answer ‘B’ questions… Two marks = define the key term (ethnocentrism, ethical

problems, validity or whatever is being asked) Thirteen marks = Three Point Explanation Example

Counterargument or Four Point Explanation Example You can link to background, research and application here

EXAM QUESTIONS: CHILD PSYCHOLOGY1. Assess the role of biological factors in intelligence [15]

2. Discuss the usefulness of a method of measuring intelligence. [15]

3. Assess the reliability of research into brain development and risk-taking [15]

4. Assess ethical problems with using brain structure as an explanation of risk taking behaviour. [15]

5. Assess the role of science in psychology, using Gibson and Walk’s study of perceptual development as an example [15]

6. Evaluate ethical considerations when researching perceptual development. [15]

7. Assess the usefulness of research into cognitive development in children in the context of education [15]

8. Assess ethical problems with the use of children in Ainsworth & Bell’s study of the development of attachment [15]

9. Assess problems of sampling bias in the study of the influence of television advertising on children [15]

EXAM QUESTIONS: CRIMINAL PSYCHOLOGY1. Assess the individual/situational debate with regard to explanations

of criminal behaviour [15]

2. Assess the methodological issues involved when researching the ways in which motivating factors and bias could affect the collection and processing of forensic evidence [15]

3. Assess the determinism debate with regard to motivating factors and bias in the collection of forensic evidence (15)

4. Assess the usefulness of research into the collection and processing of forensic evidence. [15]

5. Assess the extent to which research into the collection of evidence from suspects and witnesses raises and/or solves moral issues for society [15]

6. Assess the validity of research into how juries can be persuaded by the characteristics of witnesses and defendants [15]

7. Assess the ethical issues in crime prevention with regard to features of neighbourhoods and zero-tolerance policing [15]

8. Assess the role of social factors in understanding the effects of imprisonment [15]

How to answer ‘C’ questions…You must…

Apply content to the scenario Clearly refer to scenario (Say person’s name, refer to situation) Aim to identify three applications You can link to background, research and/or application

EXAM QUESTIONS: CHILD PSYCHOLOGY

1. Thelma is worried about her son. He seems very bright in some ways; he is generally making excellent progress at school. However, in three subjects his report was terrible and Thelma is wondering whether an intelligence test would help her to understand why. Discuss how an intelligence test might be conducted and what the results might, or might not, tell Thelma about her son. [10]

2. Dr Shah’s Research team studies risky behaviour in adolescents. She has a young research student called Dan who is designing a new project. He has to choose a topic other than gambling. Choose any risk-taking behaviour other than gambling and discuss how Dan might plan and conduct a new piece of research and what he might find [10]

3. Sally is a nurse at a post-natal clinic specialising in sensory awareness. She advises parents on ways to help their newborn babies to develop. Discuss how Sally’s knowledge of studies of perceptual development in children and animals will influence the suggestions she makes to the parents she meets. [10]

4. Leroy is a new teacher at Park School and has a lunchtime craft group with students aged between 6 and 10 years old. He is aware that the older and younger children might have different needs when learning crafts such as sewing and woodwork. Discuss how Leroy’s understanding of the cognitive development of children will impact on the way he treats the children in his group [10]

5. Kate works with infants at a nursery, some of whom find adjusting to the nursery very difficult. Her boss has asked her to provide a leaflet for parents about possible changes the nursery could make to become a more attachment-friendly environment. Discuss a strategy that Kate could suggest that could help to develop an attachment-

friendly environment either for use in the child’s home or in the nursery [10]

6. Carly runs a preschool nursery and although some parents are happy that the children are allowed to watch appropriate tv shows during the day, others have raised concerns about whether the children should be allowed to watch the advertisements between programmes. Discuss the evidence that television advertising may influence the children in the nursery [10]

7. Sam is 18 and has now 6 points on his licence. Discuss how a psychologist could reduce Sam’s risk taking behaviour (10)

8. Jack has just started nursery and his mother is worried about his perceptual development, as he seems to be behind other infants. Discuss a strategy which could be used to develop Jack’s perception (10)

9. Green way day care centre has won an award. The staff have been applauded for their care and consideration towards all the children. Discuss how a child psychologist might apply their knowledge to explain why the day centre is such an attachment friendly environment. [10]

EXAM QUESTIONS: CRIMINAL PSYCHOLOGY1. Scarlett is worried about her son josh and his friends. They are often

involved in fights at school and she thinks josh might have started stealing. Josh’s dad was always aggressive and is in prison for theft. Scarlett is wondering what might be causing Josh’s behaviour. Discuss how a criminal psychologists might apply their knowledge of two different explanations of criminal behaviour to help Scarlett to understand possible causes of Josh’s behaviour [10]

2. A series of high profile armed crimes have been committed in a town called Lymdon recently. Forensic experts have been processing the evidence. There are several possible suspects, including one with a previous conviction for possession of weapons. Discuss how motivating factors and bias could affect the collection and processing of forensic evidence in this case [10]

3. Daryl is a detective who believes he could improve the success of interviews with suspects. He suggested asking witnesses to sleep at the police station and playing them sounds known to have been audible at the time of the incident, such as dogs barking, traffic

noise or music. The witness would then be woken up and re-interviewed. Discuss how a psychologist could investigate whether Daryl’s new interview technique could improve the collection of evidence [10]

4. Darcy has been looking at the local news and has seen two pictures of people accused of theft. they have lots of piercings. She wonders if, lie accents, piercings might affect the decision-making of the jury. Discuss how a psychologist could investigate whether Darcy is right in believing that seeing a suspect with lots of piercings might affect the decision reached by a jury [10]

5. Shona has been thinking about crime in her village. Petty things such as graffiti and stealing garden gnomes are beginning to happen. She is wondering what might have led to it and what the community might do to stop it. Discuss how a psychologist could design a practical strategy to tackle the problems that Shona has seen [10]

6. Tim is only 20 years old and may go to prison for a crime he committed while drunk. His parents feel it was totally out of character and that being in prison will do him more harm than good. They are asking various people Tim knew to present arguments on his behalf. Discuss how a psychologist might apply their knowledge of punishment and reform to argue against Tim being imprisoned [10]

7. A lawyer is representing a man who believes has been wrongly accused of murder, there is evidence to suggest that he is guilty and other evidence that he may be innocent. Outline one strategy that could be used to influence during decision making in this case. (10)